50+ Lifestyles

February – Not-So-Well-Known Dates

By Eloise Graham

Everyone knows Punxsutawney Phil looks for his shadow on February 2. Those of us over 50 learned in school that February 12 is the birthday of the 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, and February 22 is the birthday of the 1st President, George Washington. That was before the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, passed in 1968, which changed their birthdays to the third Monday of the month of February. The greeting card companies, chocolatiers, and florists all know February 14 as a big money maker, aka Valentine’s Day. However, the day BEFORE each of these well-known February dates are also noteworthy.

Some little known, “the-day-before” dates:

February 1, 1790 – First Session of the U. S. Supreme Court

In the Royal Exchange Building on New York City’s Broad Street, the Supreme Court of the United States meets for the first time with Chief Justice John Jay of New York presiding.

February 11, 1937 – GM signs first autoworkers contract

In Flint, Michigan, after a six-week sit-down strike by General Motors autoworkers at the Fisher Body Plant No. 2, Alfred P. Sloan signs the first union contract in the history of the American auto industry.

February 13, 1633 – Galileo in Rome for Inquisition

Italian philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician Galileo Galilei arrives in Rome to face charges of heresy for advocating that the earth revolves around the sun. He was put under house arrest by Pope Urban VIII.

February 21, 1885 – Washington Monument dedicated

The monument, built in honor of America’s revolutionary hero and first President is dedicated in Washington D.C. Plans for a monument were discussed in 1779, shortly after Washington’s death. In 1832, the centennial of Washington’s birth, Architect Robert Mill’s design was accepted. The cornerstone was laid in 1848, but political bickering hindered progress and the Civil War caused construction to cease entirely. In 1876, Congress passed legislation appropriating $200,000 to finish construction.